Hollow artificial stone with fabricating method thereof

ABSTRACT

A method for fabricating hollow artificial stone comprises a step of material preparation, a step of locating the bush blank, a step of pouring, a step of solidification, and a step of mold releasing. The step of material preparation provides a mixed material of stone powder and adhesive, a molding tool having an inner wall with the same shape as a contour of finish work piece for the hollow artificial stone, and a bush blank having the almost same shape as the molding tool with a size smaller than the set of molding tool. The step of locating the bush blank is to place the bush blank into a mold room in the molding tool such that a clearance being formed between the inner wall and the bush blank. The step of pouring is to pour the mixed material into the clearance so as to fill with the clearance. The step of solidification is the mixed material being solidified as a firm shape and being associated with the bush blank. The step of molding tool releasing is to separate the molding tool and obtain the hollow artificial stone with a thickness of the clearance and the bush blank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of The Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a hollow artificial stone with a fabricating method for the hollow artificial stone.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The artificial stone has been very popularly used in recent years. The method to fabricate the artificial stone is to prepare the stone powder mixing with the adhesive evenly. Then, the mixture is formed a specific configuration after solidification. Because the artificial stone provides the same hardness as the stone in addition to the powered bond of high molecular adhesive, a sense of quality, which is owned by the natural stone, can also be kept on the artificial stone after solidification.

[0005] The artificial stone is formed by way of pouring and squeezing the mixed material so that a solid one such as a slate or a post can be obtained often. Although the artificial solid stone is possible to take place the natural solid stone, it is too much heavy or costly in case of a hollow material being needed.

[0006] A hollow article such as a pipe, a lamp stand, or the like is frequently used in practice. For instance, it can be understood that the lamp stand for a table lamp, especially for the luxury table lamp, is very emphasized the material thereof and it had been already made of ceramics, glass, or plastics with a hollow shape before. But, the preceding materials have their own defects respectively while they are utilized as the material of lamp stand such as the ceramics being not penetrable for light, the glass being apt to be broken, and the plastics being too much light without a sense of being valuable. It is the most serious that these materials provide no sense of quality owned by the natural material so that they are not so welcomed by the consumers, especially, the consciousness of environmental protection is rising up currently. Besides, the materials for pipes and hollow posts have the same situation as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a hollow artificial stone, which offers easy way for making the hollow artificial stone.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a hollow artificial stone, which is possible to make the hollow artificial stone have a sense of quality owned by the natural stone.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a hollow artificial stone, which is lighter for delivery and assembling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention can be more fully understood by referencing to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a cross section view of molding tool for making a hollow artificial stone according to the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a bush blank utilized during making a hollow artificial stone according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of hollow artificial stone according to the present invention during a step of squeezing;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a semi-sectional view of a finished hollow artificial stone according to the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating steps of fabrication a hollow artificial stone according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a method for fabricating a hollow artificial stone of present invention basically comprises the following steps: a step of material preparation A, a step of locating a bush blank B, a step of pouring C, a step of squeezing D, a step of solidification E, and a step of mold releasing F.

[0017] Wherein, the step of material preparation A is to mix the stone powder and adhesive together as a mixed material. The mixed material, which contains 20-80% weight of stone powder and rest percentage of adhesive, is agitated evenly to form glue like mixed material 1 with fluidity. The adhesive preferably is transparent epoxy resin, but not required. The grain size of stone powder preferably is not greater than 100 meshes.

[0018] Next, an outer forming mold 2 is prepared to have a two-piece enclosure so as to provide a mold room 21. An inner wall 22 of the outer forming mold 2 is the part to constitute the contour of finish product after forming. It is preferable that the outer forming mold 2 is made of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), but not required.

[0019] Meanwhile, a bush blank 3 is provided in the outer forming mold 2 in order to constitute a finish hollow work piece. The bush blank 3 is hollow and is formed of high molecular material such as mold blowing of PET. The contour of bush blank 3 provides a size smaller than the inner wall 22 of outer forming mold 2 with a shape thereof corresponding to the inner wall 22 of outer forming mold 2. Thus, a clearance 31 is left between the bush blank 3 and the inner wall 22 as a passage for the mixed material 1.

[0020] The step of locating bush blank B is to place the bush blank 3 into the outer forming mold 2 such that the clearance 31 is formed for filling with the mixed material 1.

[0021] The step of pouring C is to pour the preceding mixture material 1 downward from the top of outer mold 2 into the clearance 31 so as to fill with the clearance 31 for obtaining the thickness of hollow artificial stone. In the meantime, the mixed material 1 can be associated with the bush blank 3.

[0022] The step of squeezing D is to press a proper force downward at the upper opening of outer mold 2 so as to allow the mixed material 1 being congested in the clearance 31 tightly.

[0023] The step of solidification E is to solidify the mixed material 1 disposed between the outer mold 2 and the bush blank 3 so as to form a firm wall of hollow artificial stone.

[0024] The step of molding tool releasing F is to separate the outer mold 2 from the finished hollow artificial stone. Meanwhile, the bush blank 3 has formed as the inner wall of the finished hollow artificial stone. Finally, the finished hollow artificial stone then can be rearranged for further treatment.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 again, the hollow artificial stone made by way of the method of present invention has an inner wall of the preceding bush blank 3 and an outer layer thereof of the mixed material 1. Because the mixed material 1 is penetrable for light and as hard as the stone, an appended value thereof can be enhanced substantially while the hollow artificial stone of present invention is used for making a lamp stand. Even if the hollow artificial stone of present invention is used for making a post or pillar, the post or pillar can provide the property owned by a real stone either.

[0026] It is appreciated from above description that advantages of present invention can be summarized in the following:

[0027] 1) The method provided by the present invention is easily performed. The steps in the method of present invention are not necessary to utilize any precise machine or equipment so that no huge investment is required.

[0028] 2) The finished work piece of hollow artificial stone made by the method of present invention provides the same sense of quality as the natural stone and has a feature of penetrability for light. Comparing to the conventional ceramics, it is possible for the artificial stone of present invention to enhance the value thereof.

[0029] 3) Because the artificial stone of present invention is hollow with less weight, it is helpful for easily delivering and assembling, which are important for a DIY product.

[0030] 4) The configuration of hollow artificial stone made by the method of present invention can be changed with variety. Additionally, a consistent quality and size of hollow artificial stone can be made by the method of present invention and it is helpful for mass production.

[0031] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for fabricating hollow artificial stone, comprising a step of material preparation, providing a material being a mixture of stone powder and adhesive, a molding tool having an inner wall with a shape same as a contour of finish product for the hollow artificial stone, and a bush blank having the almost same shape as the molding tool and a size smaller than the molding tool; a step of locating the bush blank, placing the bush blank into a mold room in the molding tool, and a clearance being formed between the inner wall and the bush blank; a step of pouring, the mixed material being poured into the clearance and congesting the clearance; a step of solidification, the mixed material being solidified as a firm shape and being associated with the bush blank; and a step of molding tool releasing, separating the molding tool and obtaining the hollow artificial stone with a thickness of the clearance and the bush blank.
 2. The method for fabricating hollow artificial stone according to claim 1, wherein the molding tool have a left and a right halves with an upper and a lower molds.
 3. The method for fabricating hollow artificial stone according to claim 1, wherein the mixed material is a mixture of stone powder and adhesive of high molecular, and the adhesive preferably is transparent.
 4. The method for fabricating hollow artificial stone according to claim 1, wherein a step of squeezing can be inserted after the step of pouring to force the mixed material bonding together tightly.
 5. The method for fabricating hollow artificial stone according to claim 1, wherein the mixed material is 20-80% weight of stone powder evenly mixed with the rest percentage weight of epoxy resin.
 6. The method for fabricating hollow artificial stone according to claim 1, wherein the set of molding tool is made of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and the bush blank is made of PET.
 7. The method for fabricating hollow artificial stone according to claim 1, wherein the stone powder has a grain size not greater than 100 meshes.
 8. A hollow artificial stone, comprising a hollow body with an inner wall, being made of a mixed material composed of stone powder and adhesive, a hollow bush blank, being formed of high molecular and associated with the inner wall in the hollow body.
 9. The hollow artificial stone according to claim 8, wherein the hollow body is made by way of a clearance between a molding tool and a bush material therein being poured by the mixed material and releasing the molding tool after solidification, and the thickness of said hollow artificial stone is the mixed material filled with the clearance and the bush blank.
 10. The hollow artificial stone according to claim 8, wherein the mixed material is 20-80% weight of stone powder evenly mixed with the rest percentage weight of epoxy resin. 